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Penasco Elementary

Q: Is Penasco Elementary a good school?

Penasco Elementary ranks 147 th of 346 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Penasco Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 127 students attended Penasco Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Penasco Elementary?

Students at Penasco Elementary are 87% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 5% White, 2% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Penasco Elementary attend?

Students who attend Penasco Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Penasco Middle High : Penasco High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

147^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 346 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of New Mexico elementary schools

Summary

Penasco Elementary is a small, rural PK–5 school in Penasco, New Mexico, serving 127 students as part of Penasco Independent Schools. Almost all of its students come from low-income families — the free/reduced-price lunch rate was 100% in 2024–2025 — and its student–teacher ratio of 17.8 in 2024–2025 is higher than most nearby schools, though it has dropped sharply from 35.1 in 2022–2023.

Academically, the school has been on a clear improvement path. It ranked 25th percentile with 1 star in 2022–2023, then rose to 61st percentile (3 stars) in 2023–2024, 68th percentile in 2024–2025, and 58th percentile (3 stars) in 2025–2026. In 2025–2026, Language Arts proficiency was 46.94%, above the state's 43.34% and well above its district's 40.85%; math was 23.53%, below the state's 25.54% but above the district's 15.28%. Among nearby schools, Penasco's Language Arts results are higher than Chimayo Elementary, Enos Garcia Elementary, Ranchos De Taos Elementary, Taos International School and Dixon Elementary, but below Velarde Elementary, Taos Integrated School Of Arts and Taos Municipal Charter.

A few points are worth weighing. Math is the main academic gap compared with the state, and grade-level reading results vary widely — 3rd grade was 63.64% versus 44.33% statewide, while 4th grade was 38.1% versus 50.36% statewide. Science results were suppressed by the state, so they are unknown rather than a weakness. In recent years, male students have lagged behind female students, and the school's improvement has been strongest among low-income students. With only 127 students, small class groups make year-to-year swings more likely. The key questions are whether Penasco can sustain its rank gains and close the math gap.

127

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,409

Per pupil spending ?

33.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2024-25)

All students in New Mexico receive free school meals.

13 School Rd
Penasco, NM 87553

(575) 587-2230

District: Penasco Independent Schools

Students who attend Penasco Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Penasco Middle
High:	Penasco High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

87.4%

American Indian:

6.3%

White:

4.7%

See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

Compare Penasco Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 55th percentile in 2014 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the New Mexico median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg31%

New Mexico avg36%

147^th of 346

New Mexico public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 30 pts since 2016

From bottom 27% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	50.7	147 of 346	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.3	112 of 345	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	163 of 413	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	26.9	327 of 435	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.7	190 of 420	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.5	295 of 383	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	27.6	279 of 374	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.0	298 of 410	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	44.1	202 of 421	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	51.9	200 of 442	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	37.8	259 of 412	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.0	262 of 398	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.7	226 of 402	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	38.5	279 of 419	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	53.2	182 of 411	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.2	109 of 405	73.1%	★★★★☆
2007	52.1	186 of 398	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.3	169 of 390	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	40.9	238 of 389	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	78.8	56 of 398	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	49.5	187 of 390	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	90 of 395	77.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	57.0	135 of 384	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.0	288 of 395	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.3	172 of 389	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.6	213 of 329	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	57.0	102 of 325	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.4	108 of 356	69.7%	★★★★☆
2023	30.3	308 of 426	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	50.1	153 of 410	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	31.9	257 of 356	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	28.3	268 of 397	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	12.0	396 of 414	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.8	253 of 333	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	69.8	19 of 99	80.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	53.6	119 of 304	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.6	113 of 339	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	26.5	313 of 413	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2024)86th percentile+25 vs school

Native American (2022)81st percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)69th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)65th percentile+4 vs school

White (2025)61st percentile-7 vs school

Male (2024)32nd percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%+3 vs state

Mathematics24%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Penasco Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NM-ASR Science (2026)			NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2026)							NM-MSSA Mathematics (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NM-ASR Science 5th Grade	NM-ASR Science 8th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts All Grades	NM-MSSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 4th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Penasco Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	13 School Rd	Penasco	87553	Taos County	Penasco Independent Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 587-2230	127	7	17.8	33.9%	6 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (87.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	50.7	147^th of 346 public elementary schools	57.5%		56.3	112^th of 345 public elementary schools	67.5%	35				63.6	40.0	47.1				47.9							24.0	$14,409
Dixon Elementary	Public	K-6	220 New Mexico Highway 75	Dixon	87532	Rio Arriba County	Espanola Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 579-4325	50	5	10.5	48.0%	7 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (74.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.0%)								(n/a)										44.1							38.2	$12,218
Ranchos De Taos Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Ranchos Elementary Rd	Ranchos De Taos	87557	Taos County	Taos Municipal Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 758-5202	225	22	10.0	47.1%	17 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	195 (86.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	26.6	258^th of 346 public elementary schools	25.4%		29.7	222^nd of 345 public elementary schools	35.7%	36	< 20%		< 20%	26.8	42.4	23.3				29.9	31.7	< 20%	32.6				28.2	$12,003
Taos International School	Public, Charter	K-8	118 Este Es Road	Taos	87571	Taos County	Taos International School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 751-7115	179	17	10.8	36.9%	12 (6.7%)	3 (1.7%)	156 (87.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	2 (1.1%)	3 (1.7%)	33.3	224^th of 346 public elementary schools	35.3%					(n/a)	23.3		25.0			40.0	38.9			27.9							11.3	$13,101
Taos Municipal Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	1303 Paseo Del Canon East	Taos	87571	Taos County	Taos Municipal Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(575) 751-7222	216	17	12.6	23.1%	66 (30.6%)	2 (0.9%)	131 (60.6%)	4 (1.9%)	6 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)	59	107^th of 346 public elementary schools	69.1%		65.9	86^th of 345 public elementary schools	75.1%	21		51.9	35.3	33.3	59.1	41.7	73.1	64.0	59.3	55.4				42.3	32.0		24.3	$8,687
Taos Integrated School Of Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	118 Toalne Street	Taos	87571	Taos County	Taos Integrated School Of Arts	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 758-7755	215	18	11.7	40.0%	75 (34.9%)	2 (0.9%)	107 (49.8%)	1 (0.5%)	21 (9.8%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (3.7%)	73.7	60^th of 346 public elementary schools	82.7%		67.6	81^st of 345 public elementary schools	76.5%	21	50.0	40.9	45.2	50.0		60.0	70.0	57.1	61.9	54.9	40.0		55.0	35.0		52.4	38.5	$9,341
Velarde Elementary	Public	K-6	State Road 68 County Road 51	Velarde	87532	Rio Arriba County	Espanola Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 852-4331	39	4	8.9	59.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										50.0								$14,322
Enos Garcia Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	305 Don Fernando	Taos	87571	Taos County	Taos Municipal Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 758-5202	348	34	10.3	46.0%	21 (6.0%)	2 (0.6%)	308 (88.5%)	2 (0.6%)	10 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	34.8	218^th of 346 public elementary schools	37.0%		23.5	269^th of 345 public elementary schools	22.0%	51	20.8			47.7	47.1	45.3				46.6	< 20%	< 20%	18.9				13.5	$10,374
Chimayo Elementary	Public	K-6	State Rd 76 County Rd 93 Buil	Chimayo	87532	Rio Arriba County	Espanola Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 351-4207	112	8	14.9	54.5%	2 (1.8%)	1 (0.9%)	103 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										40.0							< 20%	$13,418
Taos Day School	Public	K-8	200 Rotten Tree Rd	Taos	87571	Taos County	Taos Day School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(575) 758-3652	101	4	25.2	—	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	101 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

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